Sleep at night on your cycle tour, with these handy hints
Image by Greg Williams

Bicycle Touring is an exciting, healthy way to spend your free time, either on your own, with friends or even your family! In my previous article An Introduction to Bicyle Touring the main forms of touring were defined. For most Cycle Tours the gear needed will essentially the same, although it will depend upon how much each individual cyclist is prepared to carry, what they view as essential items, what level of comfort is required, what terrain and distance the tour will cover and whether there are any support vehicles to carry equipment.

The following information is a guide to some of the kit you may need and questions to ask yourself. In this post shelter and sleeping are examined, the next post on this subject will examine clothing.

Shelter When Bicycle Touring

Tents

If you decide to camp then it is a good idea to use a tent that has a large porch so you can have separate spaces for your bike, your gear and for sleeping.  Ideal lightweight tents include the Mountain Equipment Dragon Fly 2XT, Wild Country Duolite Tourer or Vango Spirit 200+. All three weigh under 3kgs, are two person tents and have extended porches. The component parts of the tent, i.e. flysheet, inner, poles and pegs, can be distributed into different panniers to help balance out the weight across your bike. If you are cycling with together with a partner the components of the tent can be shared across two bikes.

For vehicle supported tours where weight is not an issue, a larger three season tent such as The North Face Trailhead 8 or Vaude Division Dome gives a combination of ample storage and spacious living quarters. Offering berths for 8 and 5 respectively; these allow the whole family to come, or for smaller parties have a little bit of privacy where you can zip up that internal door and relax.

Tents, Not For You?

You could always push the boat out and take a camper van for that extra comfort and the feel of home. If you are hiring a camper van or mobile home you will find that prices depend upon the season and the berth. Make sure that it is well maintained and roadworthy and that you are aware of any terms and conditions such as mileage quotas and insurance stipulations.

If you are going to stay in a hotel or B&B, there are many ways in which you can find somewhere to stay and shelter your bikes. The Internet is an obvious place to look for accommodation with many sites offering the ability to compare and contrast accommodation. Local Tourist Information Centres should be able to recommend places to stay and there are also organisations that use the various rating systems to look at. As with camp sites prices for accommodation depend on the season, rating, location, number of people and number of nights your going to stay, so do your research.

Book Ahead Or Take A Chance?

Booking accommodation or campsites in advance removes some of the flexibility of Cycle Touring, as you will have to plan and stick to a route in order to have a roof over your head. You can of course book accommodation as you move along and take the chance that you will get shelter, but in areas where accommodation is limited you may need to cycle a lot further than planned in order to find a place stay. Booking as you go along is not for everyone so think carefully before you do. If you have a large party, children or are touring in high season then it is best to book ahead.

A Peaceful Nights Sleep

Sleeping Bags

The Cumulus Quantum 200 packs down to 11 x 11 x 25 cm. Which is ideal since space in your panniers will be at a premium. It is a full size bag weighing only 495g, with 870 fill power and comfort temperature rating of 0°C.

Rest rebuilds your energy for the next stage of your journey, therefore sleeping arrangements are worth paying attention to. On a self supported tour weight is a concern, down sleeping bags whilst more expensive, are lighter and pack down smaller than synthetic ones. Using a sleeping bag liner will provide additional warmth and prolong the life of your bag.

Sleeping Mats

There are a wide range of sleeping mats to choose from. But why use a sleeping mat? Sleeping mats reduce heat loss, provide insulation and are much more comfortable then lying directly on the ground. So which ones are best? The answer again depends upon how much you want to pay, how heavy you want the mattress to be, whether you want self inflating or blow up your self and so on.

For ultralight weight and small size the best option is the is the Therm-a-rest NeoAir.

More traditional Therm-a-rests provide insulation and are self inflating, less expensive but heavier than NeoAir. the range has many variables including length, thickness and warmth. For the budget minded traveller Mulitmat have a range of inflatable sleeping mats, that are cheaper but generally heavier than Therm-a-rests.

ZZZZZZzzzzzz WAKE UP!

I did not realise all this talk of tents, sleeping bags and mattresses would send you to sleep . Unfortunately I probably will not be invited on your cycle tour, so you cannot rely upon me to send you to sleep every night! It is probably a good idea for you to think about the equipment you need from this post, so you can rest and relax whilst on that tour!

Please see the next post for clothing hints and tips.

Happy Cycle Touring!

Before commencing the round up, congratulations are in order for Snugpak. A Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category has been given to Snugpak! The sleeping bag manufacturer, who still manufacture in the UK, won the award for increasing their export business by 77% since 2006. They export to 28 different countries across the world, from Latvia to Australia and to the USA. Over 50% of Snugpak’s total production sold overseas.

We are thrilled to receive this award as recognition of our hard work and success at developing high quality, durable products that can withstand rigorous use in harsh and sometimes extreme conditions throughout the world.

Proclaimed Snugpak Sales Director Darren Burrell.

Snugpak: From Birds of Prey to Big Softies

CheapTents.com have been selling Snugpak sleeping bags on the internet since we first set up our online shop in 2001. Back in the early 1990′s, long before the internet became an everyday media, we were selling Snugpak sleeping bags in our Warrington shop, The Adventure Centre. Below is a scanned image from our 1993 printed catalogue. In the olden days Snugpak’s synthetic sleeping bags were named after birds of prey: Merlin, Hawk and Kestrel. We also stocked the Osprey and the Discovery.

Our 1993 Brochure - Snugpak Sleeping Bags

Snugpak Sleeping Bag Round Up

The current Snugpak Sleeping Bag range that we stock is called the Softie Chyrsalis range. The name “Softie” refers to the synthetic fill material used in these sleeping bags. Synthetic sleeping bags offer good performance at a reasonable price. “Chrysalis” is the name is the baffle system which is used to prevent heat escaping, keeping the inside of the sleeping bag warm.

Softie Synthetic Fill Material

The fill material that Snugpak use for many of its sleeping bags is called “Softie”. Softie is a superfine, high-thermal, polyester filling which uses superfine yarns bound with special resins to produce a luxurious down like feel.  Softie is made from “staple yarns”, which is where a continuous fibre is chopped up into staple lengths before spinning. Additionally, a more random effect is created by using curled, crimped and unaltered fibres. By incorporating a random element into the yarn the end product more closely resembles the structure of natural down.

Softie is easy to care for, washable and retains a lot of its thermal properties when wet.

Snugpak Softie Range

The different bags in the Softie Chrysalis range that we currently stock are called the Winter, Autumn, Kilo and Micro. All of these sleeping bags feature the Chrysalis Baffle System, are profiled and have an anatomically designed foot system. They also have variable length and unique rolling systems.

The warmest sleeping bag in the range is the Softie Chrysalis Winter, with a comfort temperature of -10°C. This should be warm enough for use during the Winter in most places in the UK. For the weight conscious backpacker it is on the heavy side at 1950 grams, but this is not a problem if you do not have to carry it very far. With a relatively low price tag, it offers good value for all year round camping. The compressed pack size is 26 x 24 cm.

The Softie Chrysalis Autumn is a three season sleeping bag. With a comfort temperature of -5°C it can be used for camping most of year when conditions are mild. The compressed pack size is 21 x 19 cm, about the same size as a football.

With a comfort temperature of +7 °C the Softie Chrysalis Micro is a summer only sleeping bag. Compared to the warmer Autumn and Winter bags, the Micro is much lighter at 1000 grams.

Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Kilo Sleeping Bag

The Softie Chrysalis Kilo bag features “Reflectatherm“, which is a metallised fabric fill material that is designed to reflect heat and retain warmth, providing at least 15% additional warmth. Reflectatherm is a highly breathable material which adds little to the weight or packsize.

The outer material of the Kilo Bag is Paratex Micro, which is a tough yet breathable ripstop material with a water repellent finish. The inner is Paratex Light, a fabric that is exceptionally breathable and able to wick moisture away.

With a weight of 1300 grams, it is unclear why it is called the Kilo bag!

We also stock the Navigator sleeping bag, which has a cotton lining and can be opened up into a quilt. It also has an outside pocket.

Snugpak Sleeping Bag Comparison Table

Image	Model	Temperature (°C)	Weight (g)	Packed Size (cm)
	Softie Chrysalis Winter Sleeping Bag	Comfort: -10 Low: -15	1950	26 x 24
	Softie Chrysalis Autumn Sleeping Bag	Comfort: -5 Low: -10	1400	21 x 19
	Navigator Sleeping Bag	Comfort: -2 Low: -7	1700	22 x 21
	Softie Chrysalis Kilo Sleeping Bag	Comfort: 2 Low: -3	1300	19 x 18
	Softie Chrysalis Micro Sleeping Bag	Comfort: +7 Low: +2	1000	16 x 16

What do you think?

Have you got a Snugpak Sleeping Bag? What do you think of it? Let us know using the “Comments” link below.

The North Face Cats Meow

The North Face Cats Meow is a synthetic filled, multi-purpose, 3 season sleeping bag. With a rating of -7°C and weighing in at a respectable 1.2kg, or 2lb 10 oz in old money, this bag is definitely a good all round performer at a great price.  It comes with a stuff sack along with a mesh sack for long-term storage so you don’t damage the loft.

The North Face Cats Meow Sleeping Bag

The North Face Cats Meow Highlights

• I really liked the chest-level watch pocket which allows you to stash away your alarm clock near your head so you can get woken up and get started on your next days walking nice and early.
• Glow-in-the-dark zip pull which should stop you having to fumble about in the middle of the night when you need to get in or out.
• The stiffener in the zip column is designed prevent annoying snags which in a moment of frustration can all to easily lead to a ripped bag.
• Being synthetic, the sleeping bag still keeps much of its insulating properties when wet, but dried super quick.
• The lining of the Cats Meow has a comfortable “silky” feel to it as well as being effective in wicking away sweat.
• The overlapping shingle construction eliminates cold spots by evenly distributing the insulation.

My only criticisms would be that it doesn’t come with a compression sack and I did find the foot box a bit small, although I do have size 13 feet!

Overall I really like this bag, it’s durable, reasonably lightweight and preforms well.  The low price tag makes the cats meow an ideal piece of kit for someone starting out or indeed anyone looking for a good quality sleeping bag without breaking the bank.

Click here to view the our range of sleeping bags, including the cat’s meow.

I’ve put the rest of the technical details I haven’t mentioned in the post below, for all you gearheads looking to know the exact specs.

Technical Details for The North Face Cats Meow

• Bag length 213cm
• Bag width – foot 51cm, shoulder 79cm
• Pack width 20cm
• Pack length 43cm
• Min Comfort Rating -7 °C
• Weight 1200g
• Climashield™ Prism synthetic insulation
• Overlapping shingle construction
• Firestorm™ top shell fabric
• Full-length draft tube
• Head-level zipper garage with welded reinforced Velcro® flap
• One-hand pull cord for easy hood adjustments with flat cordlock and Neoprene cover

Earlier this month Adam Wilton and Gavin Booth set off on a two man expedition to the geographic South Pole. Their journey started about a week ago at Hercules Inlet and will cover a distance of 1,130 km. They will climb almost 3,000 m on their expedition and will be heading into winds of up to 55 knots. With no support or re-supply they will each be pulling sleds of 120 kg with all their expedition equipment. Average Antarctic temperatures will be from – 25 °C to -40 °C.

Campaign to Save Robert Falcon Scott’s Hut

Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic Hut. Source: www.ukaht.org

Adam and Gavin are hoping to raise £250,000 to help save Robert Falcon Scott’s hut. Located at Cape Evans, the hut dates back from Robert Falcon Scott’s ill fated Terra Nova expedition to the South Pole. The hut is of great historic value but is unfortunately deteriorating in the harsh weather conditions of the Antarctic. Preserving the hut and other Antarctic artefacts is a huge and expensive task, taken on by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust. Any donations made will be doubled as a match funding pledge has been set up through the generosity of a British Charitable Foundation .

Frozen Sleeping Bags and Mitts

Adam and Gavin have been walking for nearly two weeks now. The weather has been harsh: snow storms and cold, biting winds. They have been waking up to find their sleeping bags and mitts frozen. It has been hard going, nevertheless they have reported that they are making good progress. Further progress reports on the South Pole expedition can be found on their British South Pole Expedition website. Adam and Gavin aim to reach the South Pole by New Year’s day 2009. If they have any energy left by that time they might consider celebrating by doing the crampon dance. Good luck guys!

A down sleeping bag with a comfort temperature -7°C at a great price!

A quick blog post to say that there’s a great price currently on in the CheapTents.com outdoor shop for the The North Face Blue Kazoo sleeping bag.

Reduced from £150, The North Face Blue Kazoo is exceptional value.  A down sleeping bag for £114.95 from The North Face – tell your friends!

Blue Kazoo Sleeping Bag Features:

• Min. Comfort Temp. = -7°C
• 600+ Eastern European goose down fill
• Trapezoidal baffle construction
• Climashield™ Prism pads in compression zones
• Shadowlite™ SL ripstop nylon top shell
• Silky nylon taffeta lining
• 7-chamber sculpted hood with single point hidden cordlock adjustment
• Down filled draft tube and face comfort tube with enhanced internal heat trap
• Vaulted ergonomic footbox
• Ground level side seams
• Glow-in-the-dark zipper pull with bonded zipper garage
• No-Snag bonded stiffener in zipper column
• Bonded watch pocket with bonded water resistant zipper
• Sleeping pad retention loops
• One nylon storage sack and one siliconized stuffsack included
• Weight 1355 g. Packs down to 24 x 46 cm.

The North Face Blue Kazoo: £115 from £150

Cumulus Quantum 200 Down Sleeping Bag Features

Firstly, let’s start with the technical specification of the Quantum 200, features include:

• Extremely lightweight without stinting on features.
• Tiny stuff sack
• 200gms of 96:4 Polish Goose Down insulation with 870 fill power;
• Fill Volume: >5800 cubic inches;
• Pertex Ripstop Quantum 30gms/m², with DWR treatment;
• Top side construction: Boxwall;
• Weighs 495g. Packs down to 11 x 11 x 25 cm.
• Length: 217cm
• Comfortable for people up to 6’1″ tall
• Width Shoulders / Foot (cm): 75/50;
• Comfort Temp. = 0°C
• (Temperature rating confirmed by independent lab testing at Leeds University)

Features common to all Cumulus Sleeping Bags:

• Full length YKK two-way zip with zip together compatibility (even different models);
• Anti-snagging, insulated zip baffle;
• Cowl hood and 1 hand operated drawcords;
• Inside pocket & hanging loops;
• Compact fully-featured stuff sack;
• Mesh storage bag.

Sleeping Bag Construction

The Cumulus Quantum 200 takes advantage of an advanced form of construction, called Boxwall design.  Boxwall sleeping bags benefit the user by avoiding cold-spots, typical of stitched through construction.  Other sleeping bags from the Cumulus Quantum range are constructed using the marginally better again trapezoid design.

Goose Down Filling

The Cumulus Quantum range uses what is the best quality down available.  Diamond Grade, white, Polish Goose Down provides the best warmth to weight ratio available in any form of down.

Cumulus Quantum 200 Sleeping Bag

Pertex Outer and Inner

The outer is made from Pertex Ripstop Quantum, a featherweight form of Pertex which has the best strength to weight ratio of any sort of Pertex.  It is 25-50% lighter than other forms of Pertex, soft as silk and has the smallest packing volume of any form of Pertex.  A superb material.

Quantum 200 Review and Tests

The Cumulus Quantum 200 bag is a spectacular sleeping bag, and having tested it in a variety of conditions, it’s clear to see the value too.

Test 1: 28th October, Stoodley Pike, Pennine Way, 402m altitude, Temperature 8°C or less.  Sleeping in a tent and on a Thermarest.

The conditions on this particular dry were very, very windy which as you know always seems to reduce the temperature to what your thermometer reads!  These were great conditions for testing a sleeping bag of this nature.  The overall impression by the tester was that the pack and stuffsack size were both excellent, as were the features and cosmetics, although for a larger build person it was a little snug – this is typical though of ultralight sleeping bags, and should only be a concern for someone with an atypical build.  In the conditions, the testee was more than comfortable and the temperature could well have fallen some more before that would have changed.

Test 2: 22nd July, Great Hill, West Pennines, 381m altitude, Temperature 10°C or less.  Sleeping in a bivi bag on a Thermarest

At the start of the night the sky was very clear and it only started raining at dawn.  using the sleeping bag in a bivi bag would be a very typical example of how a serious lightweight backpacker might decide to use it, so we thought that this test was excellent.  There was nothing during the night that made the testee think that the sleeping bag would not be comfortable to 0°C or even less.

Test 3: 23rd September, Pendle Hill Summit, off Bowland, 577m altitude Temperature 12°C or less. Sleeping in a tent on a Thermarest.

The weather conditions were very foggy, with strong winds and heavy showers, although being in the Cumulus Quantum was more than a match for anything thrown at it.  As snug as a bug in a Cumulus Quantum 200!  Feedback was excellent in regards to it’s appearance, tiny stuffsack, pack-size and it’s features.

Conclusion

This is a sleeping bag with an exceptional list of features – one which any serious backpacker, or someone seeking an ultralight sleeping bag with top-spec qualities, would appreciate.  For a backpacker with a fuller figure it might be a snug fit, but take a look at the measurements first and you should be fine.  Pair it up with a bivi bag and a Thermarest and you’ve got yourself an incredibly warm, lightweight, compact sleeping bag – a truly highly recommended sleeping bag!  If you need any more details on the Cumulus Quantum 200 sleeping bag, or any other down sleeping bags for that matter, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Cumulus Sleeping Bags Stand-Apart

What stands Cumulus apart from the down sleeping bag crowd and the reason for us selling their sleeping bags, is their incredible warmth-to-weight ratio, and at a very affordable price.  To follow is some tests and reviews on the Cumulus sleeping bag range, but first a little bit about Cumulus:

About Cumulus Sleeping Bags

From their website, here is a little bit of blurb about cumulus sleeping bags:

Cumulus has been making high quality specialist outdoor equipment for more than 12 years with sales mainly in Europe and USA. Cumulus down-insulated sleeping bags and specialist clothing (jackets and trousers) have been used on many high altitude mountaineering expeditions in the Himalayas, Andes, Alps, Pamir and Atlas mountains. Notably, members of the 2002/03 and 2003/04 expeditions up K2 and Shisha Pangma, in severe winter conditions, made use of Cumulus equipment…The FIRST EVER successful winter ascent of Shisha Pangma in January 2005 featured Cumulus sleeping bags at the 7800 metre camp.

Cumulus Sleeping Bags, August 2008

Cumulus Sleeping Bag Materials

If you’re reading this blog post, it’s probably because you’ve heard about Cumulus sleeping bags.  The reason that you’ve heard of them is because the materials used to make Cumulus sleeping bags are coupled with design expertise.  Those into keeping warm at night will be pleased to hear that Cumulus sleeping bags use what is regarded by most as the finest Polish goose down and what is regarded as the best outer fabric, Pertex.

Cumulus Expedition 1100 Sleeping Bag

Interestingly, Cumulus sleeping bags have carried out very little advertising compared to other down sleeping bag manufacturers, deriving it’s success from word-of-mouth advertising.  This follows on from aiming to make the best down sleeping bags available.

If you’re looking for more advice on sleeping bags, both down and synthetic options, please visit the sleeping bag help page – here you’ll be able to learn about their construction, features, season-rating, and pros and cons of each type.

Cumulus Sleeping Bags Tests & Review

In order to help keep the sleeping bag reviews organised, they will each follow on from this blog post, as opposed to having the longest blog post ever, so remember patience is a virtue!

And don’t forget, contact us for more information on Cumulus sleeping bags or anything else in regards to sleeping bags advice on 01925 411 385, or via email.